by Gigi Thorne
When our releases hit us, we hold onto each other tighter, knowing this is the last time, the last seconds of our little heaven.
“Shower?” he whispers.
I shake my head. I don’t want to wash him off my body. I won’t take anything but memories from this place while leaving, at least I want his scent all over me.
He closes his eyes for a second before he kissing me with everything he has.
We don’t talk as we get dressed. He takes my luggage, putting them at the bottom of the stairs. As we walk hand in hand, he guides me outside. Time is ticking, but I don’t ask him where he’s taking me. Finally, he stops in front of the farm store.
I look at him with questions in my eyes, but he ignores me as he grabs things from the store. A pack of flower seeds, a flower pot, and a bag of ready to use soil mix.
“You haven’t planted anything,” he murmurs.
I frown, but realization dawns on me the moment he adds, “You said if people plant something here they’d like to come back.”
Swallowing back the tears, I start planting the flower. My eyes are blurry, I can’t even read which flower seed I’m putting on the soil.
When I’m finally done, he cradles my face in his palms and kisses me.
“Breakfast?” he asks, but I shake my head. I don’t think I can eat anything right now.
And we head for the end of our story.
17
Aubrey
One Month Later
Suffocated. Overwhelmed. Stressed.
That’s how my life has been since I came back from Tennessee.
The chaos I used to find calming in this city is now something I want to hide from.
In my office and in my penthouse, I feel like a caged animal. Forced to be here, forced to put on a show every day for the sake of others.
I’m not going to my office unless it’s necessary. I can't close the windows in my apartment, feeling claustrophobic. Instead, I'm spending all my time in Central Park. For the twenty-eight years of my life, I've never been in Central Park, now I'm not leaving it. I don't even know why I didn't visit here earlier since it's this close to my apartment and office.
My phone vibrates on the bench next to me. It's Chelsea.
“Yes?”
“Miss Watts, I just wanted to remind you of your meeting in thirty minutes.”
With a sigh, I nod my head like she can see me. “I'll be there.”
I go to my apartment to change my outfit quickly. Today's meeting is impromptu, and I wasn't really planning on going into the office at all today. When I'm ready, I hurry to my office. My assistant Chelsea is looking at me weird since I came back.
“Your coffee, Miss Watts?” she asks, handing me a mug. But I shake my head.
“Do we have iced tea?”
She schools her expression before nodding and heading for the kitchen.
When she comes back with a big glass of iced tea, I sense someone else entering my office with her.
I lift my head, and everything slows down again. The chaos leaves me. The world becomes colorful.
“Hey,” he breathes out. His eyes roam over every inch of me like he tries to get reacquainted with me.
“Mr. Rage?” Chelsea asks and turns toward me to add, “Your 2 p.m. meeting, Miss Watts.”
“Chelsea, you can leave. Thank you,” I murmur, not being able to take my eyes away from him.
God, he looks even more handsome than I remember, but also, so different. I always saw him in jeans and t-shirts or flannel shirts. Now, he's wearing a black suit with a dark blue shirt. To my surprise, He has a tie on. I notice he's loosened it. He seems so out of his element even though he still looks ravishing.
“Rhett… what are you doing here?”
He lifts his hands a little. That's when I realize the flower pot in his hands.
“Your flowers bloomed. I wanted you to see them,” he murmurs.
Biting my lip, I suppress my smile. “You could've taken a photo.”
He fidgets, looks around my office before finally taking a step closer to my desk to put the pot on. When he looks at me, his eyes are burning like I remember, like I still fantasize about every night.
He walks until he steps right in front of me. “I wanted to see you, too,” he says huskily.
“Oh,” I breathe out.
“Yeah,” he whispers, leaning down to me like he's planning on kissing me. “I missed you, Princess.”
Narrowing my eyes, I put my hand on his chest. “Then why didn't you call me?”
“I was trying to do the right thing, so you don't have to choose between your job and me.”
“So, what changed now?”
“I had a change of heart. Being the good guy hurts so fucking much,” he answers. The emotions behind his voice is my undoing. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, letting him lift me to my desk. He leaves me breathless with his kiss. It's needy, urgent, and desperate. It's both cherishing and punishing. When our lips finally separate, his hands move from my neck to my breasts and down to my thigh.
“Now what?” I ask as he slides his hand under my skirt to my panties.
“It depends,” he says.
“On what?”
“On your decision. If you'll be with me or keep torturing us.”
“What will you do if I keep torture us?”
He smirks. “Then, I'll have to torture you with orgasm denial, I'm afraid.”
I try to press my thighs together with the rough tone under his voice.
“What if I chose the right thing?”
He leans down, kissing and sucking the sweet spot under my ear before answering, “Then I'll fuck you right here, right now. I'll fuck you so good we'll both forget the damn time we spent away from each other.”
I moan. My body is already burning with need for him. Without answering him, I reach for the button of his suit pants and start undoing it until I palm his erection.
“Is this answer enough?”
He grins but shakes his head. “Use your words. Say, I love you, Rhett.”
I gasp.
“Say it, because God knows I fucking love you, Princess. I love you so damn much I can live in this damn city if that's what you want.”
“Rhett-" I start, but he interrupts me, shaking his head.
“I'm serious, Aubrey. Nowhere is good without you in my arms.”
My eyes well up with tears. Cradling his face in my hands, I give him a chaste kiss.
“I love you, Rhett Cooper.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, he rips my panties and kneels in front of me before diving his head between my legs like a man starving for food after his long-termed fasting.
As he makes me writhe, moan, and scream with pleasure I hope none of my employees and co-workers will file a sexual harassment against me.
Epilogue
Rhett
6 months later
“Rhett!!!”
Aubrey waves a magazine in front of me.
“What’s this?”
“TravelMania wrote a review about Cooper Ranch Resort!” she exclaims, beaming.
TravelMania is one of the biggest magazines about traveling. Think of it like gourmet of places to stay, and we were both excited and afraid of their stay here.
Grabbing the magazine from Aubrey, I pull her on my lap and read aloud.
“Words are inadequate to praise Cooper Ranch Resort. This small piece of heaven offers its guests the tranquility of nature, the liveliness of a countryside, and the calm away from the rush in a city. With many different activities you can do with your family and loved ones, Cooper Ranch Resort provides you with a peaceful and refreshing vacation. Indulge yourself with this luxury in nature. Very well deserved 5 full stars!”
“Wow,” I breathe out when I finish reading it.
“That's amazing, Rhett. Lola says rooms are already booked for the next two months, but campers keep calling.”
I hug her, putting a kiss on her temple
. “You made this happen, darlin’.”
Turning on my lap, she straddles me. “The idea was yours. I just did my job.”
“Seducing your clients, making them fall for you, and get a ring on your finger is in your job description too?”
She playfully looks at the ring I gave her last week and smiles seductively before leaning close to my ear. “It's a good investment. Loyal clients keep me busy.”
Grabbing her ass, I move her against my hard-on. “I know how you like me keeping you busy.”
She giggles and hugs me, resting her head against my shoulder with a content sigh.
Aubrey wanted to live on the ranch with me. Even though her office is still set in New York City and after attending all the meetings her assistant planed in the same week, she keeps working from the ranch, our home. She has to travel at least twice a month, either for meetings or to see the place she designs, but she seems happy with this way of things. My Princess is addicted to nature now, and I'm addicted to her, we're inseparable.
THE END
Acknowledgments
Firstly, thank you all the amazing authors in Gigi Thorne that make this journey a lot of fun. I’m honored to be in the same boat with all of the amazing ladies.
I want to thank my best friend Sybil Wilson. I can’t imagine a day without her by my side. Thank you for your support and friendship.
Huge thanks to my PA, Angela Evans. I appreciate all you do to help me.
Jenny Dillon with Prose Editor you once again polished my words and helped me make this book the best it can be.
Special thanks my beta readers Nicole Brown, Nancy George, and Renee McCleary your insight and critique, as usual, has been invaluable.
I’m so lucky to have these amazing people by my side. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for joining me for every ride.
Who is Gigi
Gigi Thorne is a group of Amazon, USA Today and NYT bestselling authors who came together under one name to write bite-sized romance for the naughty girl.
We will bring you weekly releases in the shape of sexy, irresistible novellas you can devour in one sitting.
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Also by Gigi
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June - Teacher & Student
Teacher’s Pet
Extra Credit
Schooled
Hot For My Teacher
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Hard Ride
Cowboy’s City Girl
Buckle Up, Buttercup
Hard Ride
Cowboy Confidential
Wrangle Me
Belt Buckles and Spurs
August - TBA